Go glamping and 'disco' strawberry picking at a farm north of Tokyo

If you want to go camping in Japan but can’t be bothered pitching your own tent or starting a campfire from scratch, Namegata Farmer’s Village in Ibaraki Prefecture has got you covered. The farm offers a full glamping experience, with cozy cabins and tents already set up and waiting for you.

Its countryside location, about two hours east of Tokyo, makes it a great place for stargazing around a campfire, away from all the noise and over-stimulation of the city.

If you’re new to glamping (glamorous camping), you’ve been missing out. Get ready to kick back and enjoy a different side of Japan. Since this is a farm, you still have the chance to get your hands dirty by planting or harvesting sweet potatoes, strawberries and more.

Photo: Randiah Camille Green

Glamping Ibaraki style

The cabins at Namegata Farmer’s Village are actually repurposed shipping containers outfitted with an air conditioner, snug beds, and a deck out front for grilling. Both the cabins and tents can fit up to two people comfortably.

June 19
09:00 am JST

Shipping containers make great cheap sheds, but are a poor choice for buildings if you are actually registering them (kakunin shinsei/touki), which will be essential for permission as accommodation. To register them, you'll need a foundation, and if you are going to the trouble and expense of building one of them, you can make a much better building from scratch out of wood. One with none of the restrictions you get with shipping containers, e.g., 2.5m wide, minus the width of your hopefully insulated walls. In fact, the best reason to use shipping containers as accom is to attract people who incorrectly think it is an amazing form of recycling or amazing architecture. It is neither.

Placed of concrete blocks, shipping containers make epic storage though. If anyone hassles you for planning permission, you have the "it's temporary" getout. Expect to pay 250,000 for one in decent condition. They are not free like in countries that import far more than they export. In countries where containers are free, there is more incentive to make buildings out of them. The main reason though is that it is trendy.